What are the three most important issues facing Iowans, and how would you address them?

• Making health care work for all Iowans: I’ll make sure affordable, accessible health care is available to everyone in our rural district, end Medicaid privatization and guarantee coverage for pre-existing conditions.

• Stabilizing education: I’ll make sure that public schools (pre-K through college and trade schools) are fully funded.

• Protecting working families: I’ll make sure we eliminate special interest and out-of-state tax giveaways and invest in Eastern Iowa businesses and jobs.

Do you believe the state should increase the minimum wage? If yes, to what level?

Yes, I would start the increase at $10.10 to get a family of three above the poverty line. I would make sure I talk to our small business community to transition them to this wage on a timeline that is manageable for them. Finally, I would retroactively recognize the counties that raised their minimum wage to $15 so they can get more of their citizens off welfare/social services, start saving taxpayers money and have increased state revenues as a result.

Would you vote to roll back the state income tax cuts passed last session? Would you expand them?

I would not roll back the state income tax unilaterally, but instead make sure that Iowa’s working class families get the tax relief they need with targeted tax cuts for child care, small business owners and homeowners.

Would you vote to end or phase out the property tax “backfill” for local governments?

I would not vote to end the property tax backfill because that’s the promise we made to our local governments and it benefits taxpayers. Ending this could cripple rural towns and communities beyond repair.

Would you vote to ban automated traffic cameras/enforcement devices? If no, would you favor bringing them under state regulation?

We don’t want to skimp on safety, but we also don’t want these cameras used for cash. I would leave in place any cameras our citizens deem necessary to ensure the safety of Iowans in my district. I would look at hiring more police if necessary to make our streets and highways safer.

Would you vote to expand Iowa’s current medical cannabis law? Legalize marijuana?

I’ve heard from Iowa patients and my own mother-in-law on this issue, and it’s clear that the current law doesn’t help patients enough. We need to increase the number of diseases that can be treated by medical marijuana and increase the THC level per dosage to optimize the potency and effectiveness. I would support the legalization of marijuana.

Should Iowa amend the state Constitution to protect the right to bear arms beyond current language? Would you support a “constitutional carry” change to Iowa’s firearm permit system that would significantly expand gun rights?

I would vote to amend the Iowa Constitution to make the right to bear arms a fundamental and individual right, as stated in the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

Would you support giving counties local control to regulate livestock facilities? Would you favor a moratorium on new large CAFO construction?

I support local control regulating livestock facilities — the Master Matrix does not do enough to protect citizens.

What are your thoughts on increasing funding for public education? Would you vote to extend 1-cent SAVE sales tax for school infrastructure until 2049?

We need to make sure our public schools are stable and support all students. In fact, I would vote to extend SAVE and even look at removing the sunset clause.

Would you expand or repeal Iowa’s law barring doctors from performing an abortion once a fetal heartbeat is detected?

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The choice of whether or not to have an abortion is between a woman and her doctor. The government has no place in that decision or in telling a woman what to do with her body.

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